Letter 287: IT is difficult to deal with this man. I scarcely know how to treat so shifty, and, to judge from the evidence, so desperate a character. When summoned before the court, he fails to appear; and if he does attend, he is gifted with such volubility of words and oaths, that I think myself well off to be quickly rid of him.

This man is impossible to deal with. I barely know how to handle so slippery and -- to judge by the evidence -- so desperate a character. When summoned to court, he fails to appear. When he does attend, he is gifted with such a torrent of words and oaths that I count myself lucky to be rid of him quickly. I have often seen him turn his own accusations back on his accusers. In short, there is no creature on earth so cunning and versatile in villainy. Even a brief acquaintance proves this. Why, then, do you appeal to me? Why not simply resign yourselves to his abuse as a visitation of God's wrath? At the same time, you must not be contaminated by contact with such wickedness. I therefore order that he and his entire household be barred from the services of the Church and from all communion with her ministers. Being made an example in this way, he may perhaps come to his senses.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA Without address. IT is difficult to deal with this man. I scarcely know how to treat so shifty, and, to judge from the evidence, so desperate a character. When summoned before the court, he fails to appear; and if he does attend, he is gifted with such volubility of words and oaths, that I think myself well off to be quickly rid of him. I have often known him twist round his accusations upon his accusers. In a word, there is no creature living upon earth so subtle and versatile in villainy. A slight acquaintance with him suffices to prove this. Why then do you appeal to me? Why not at once bring yourselves to submit to his ill-treatment, as to a visitation of God's anger? At the same time you must not be contaminated by contact with wickedness. I enjoin therefore that he and all his household be forbidden the services of the Church, and all other communion with her ministers. Being thus made an example of, he may haply be brought to a sense of his enormities.

[Πρός: Ἀνεπίγραφος, ἐπὶ ἐκδικηταῖς] Δυσμεταχείριστον ἔοικεν εἶναι τὸ κατὰ τόνδε. οὐ γὰρ ἔχομεν τί χρησόμεθα οὕτω πολυτρόπῳ ἤθει, ὡς ἐκ τῶν ὁρωμένων ἐστὶν εἰκάζειν, ἀπεγνωσμένῳ. εἰς κρίσιν μὲν γὰρ καλούμενος, οὐχ ὑπακούει, κἂν ἀπαντήσῃ, τοσαύτῃ χρῆται περιουσίᾳ λόγων καὶ ὅρκων, ὡς ἀγαπητὸν ἡμῖν ποιεῖν τὸ ταχέως αὐτοῦ χωρισθῆναι. εἶδον δὲ αὐτὸν πολλάκις καὶ περιτρέψαντα τὰς αἰτίας τοῖς ἐγκαλοῦσι. καὶ ὅλως οὐδεμία φύσις τῶν ὅσα τὴν γῆν ἐπιβόσκεται οὕτω ποικίλη καὶ πρὸς κακίαν εὔπλαστος, ὡς ἡ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τούτου, ὡς ἐξ ὀλίγης τῆς πείρας ἔστι τὸ κατʼ αὐτὸν τεκμήρασθαι. τί δὲ ἐρωτᾶτέ με, καὶ οὐ πείθετε ἑαυτοὺς ὑπομένειν τὰς παρʼ αὐτοῦ ἀδικίας ὡς ὀργήν τινα θεήλατον ; ὑπὲρ δὲ τοῦ μὴ ὑμᾶς μολύνεσθαι ἐν κοινωνίᾳ τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων, πανοικεὶ τῶν εὐχῶν κεχωρίσθω, καὶ τῆς ἄλλης τῆς πρὸς τοὺς ἱερατικοὺς κοινωνίας. ἴσως παραφύλαγμα γενόμενος ἐντραπήσεται.